Akerman Names Erika Labelle Denver Managing Partner
The firm appoints tax partner Erika Labelle to lead its Denver office following a leadership transition.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People
Law firm Akerman has announced that tax partner Erika Labelle will serve as the new managing partner of its Denver office. She succeeds Kevin Hein, who held the leadership role for five years.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a change in leadership for the firm's Colorado operations as it continues to manage its legal service offerings. Labelle brings extensive background in tax law to this strategic management role.
Erika Labelle brings nearly two decades of tax law experience to the position. Her predecessor, Kevin Hein, led the Denver office for five years.
The players
Erika Labelle
She is a tax partner at Akerman who has nearly two decades of legal experience and has been recognized by Best Lawyers for her tax work in Colorado.
Kevin Hein
He is a partner at Akerman who led the firm's Denver office for five years and currently co-chairs the firm's Franchise and Licensing Sector Team.
Akerman
This is a national law firm with a specific regional presence in Denver that provides legal services across various sectors including tax and franchising.
The details
Labelle currently serves as a tax partner at Akerman and has earned recognition from Best Lawyers for her work in Colorado. She has also authored a chapter for a Practising Law Institute treatise on corporate transaction tax strategies annually since 2017.
Timeline
2017: Labelle began authoring a chapter for a Practising Law Institute treatise.
October 23, 2026: Akerman officially announced Labelle as the new Denver office managing partner.
Market Landscape
The firm’s move to elevate a tax expert signals a focus on specialized corporate advisory services within the regional legal market. This shift positions the Denver office to leverage Labelle's long-standing academic contributions to the Practising Law Institute treatise on corporate transaction tax strategies.
Clients of the Denver office may see a greater emphasis on tax strategy expertise given the new partner's background. Existing service agreements and franchise legal consultations remain managed under the firm's broader corporate sector teams.
The takeaway
Effective leadership transitions in law firms often reflect a broader strategy to align regional management with the firm's strongest practice areas. Clients should note that new office leads typically signal a continued commitment to the firm's established specializations.
Further reading
For more on leadership changes and professional developments in the area, visit the Denver People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ColoradoBiz.
